Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) morrilli ( Howard, 1908 )

Triapitsyn, Serguei V., Huber, John T., Logarzo, Guillermo A., Berezovskiy, Vladimir V. & Aquino, Daniel A., 2010, Review of Gonatocerus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in the Neotropical region, with description of eleven new species, Zootaxa 2456, pp. 1-243 : 183-184

Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) morrilli ( Howard, 1908)

( Figs 379–381 )

Cosmocomoidea morrilli Howard 1908: 69 . Lectotype female [USNM] (examined), designated by Huber 1988: 52. Type locality: Orlando, Orange Co., Florida, USA.

Cosmocomoidea morilli [sic] Howard: Girault 1917b: 36 (specimens from Veracruz, Mexico).

Ooctonus morrilli (Howard) : Girault 1929: 21.

Ooctonus morilli [sic] (Howard): Whittaker 1931: 192 (in key).

? Lymaenon morilli [sic] (Howard): Ogloblin 1936: 46.

Cosmocomoidea morrilli Howard : Peck 1951: 411 (catalog); Turner & Pollard 1959: 26 (host association); Peck 1963: 19 (catalog).

Lymaenon (Cosmocomoidea) morrili [sic] (Howard): Ogloblin 1959b: 44, 50.

Lymaenon (Cosmocomoidea) morrilli (Howard) : Annecke & Doutt 1961: 14.

Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) morrilli (Howard) : De Santis 1979: 367 (catalog).

Gonatocerus morrilli (Howard) : Huber 1988: 51–53 (subsequent references, redescription, diagnosis, distribution including Mexico, host associations); Yoshimoto 1990: 40 (list, ater species group); Triapitsyn et al. 1998: 241–243; Triapitsyn, Bezark et al. 2002: 39–40 (distribution in Mexico, host associations); de León et al. 2004: 1–5 (molecular data on specimens from Texas); de León 2004a: 318–320 (molecular distinction between geographic populations); de León 2004b: 322–324 (molecular distinction between geographic populations); de León et al. 2005: 302– 304 (molecular distinction between cryptic species); Hoddle & Stouthamer 2005: 338–340 (molecular and morphological distinction between similar species); Hoddle & Triapitsyn 2005: 341–342 (quarantine cultures of Mexican origin); Triapitsyn et al. 2006: 63 (molecular data); Triapitsyn 2006a: 11 (illustration), 12–15 (taxonomic history, diagnosis, distribution, host associations); de León et al. 2006: 282–291 (molecular distinction between cryptic species); de León et al. 2006a: 42 (molecular data); de León et al. 2006c: 50 (molecular data); de León et al. 2006d: 54 (molecular data); de León et al. 2006e: 57–58 (molecular data); de León & Morgan 2006: 60–62 (molecular data); de León et al. 2007: 74 (molecular data); Bernal et al. 2007: 67–68 (record from Sonora, Mexico); de León & Morgan 2007: 81–84 (molecular identification); de León et al. 2008: 99, 102–105 (molecular data); Triapitsyn et al. 2008: 5, 22 (molecular data); Triapitsyn & Bernal 2009: 7 (host association in Sonora, Mexico).

Material examined. See Triapitsyn (2006a).

Extralimital record. USA. LOUISIANA, St. Tammany Parish, Covington , 14-28.vii.2003, M. Devall, N.M. Schiff [1 ♀, UCDC].

Redescription. See Huber (1988), and also Triapitsyn (2006a) for the detailed diagnosis.

Diagnosis. Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) morrilli is a member of the morrilli subgroup of the ater species group. It belongs to a complex of similarly looking species within the morrilli subgroup, all of which have a mostly yellow-orange body and F5 and F6 of the female antenna white (F5 sometimes at least partially). It is very similar to G. (Cosmocomoidea) walkerjonesi Triapitsyn , from which it differs by the parallel submedian carinae on the propodeum, with a narrower gap between them ( Fig. 380 ). The petiole is generally relatively longer in G. morrilli (usually at least 1.5x as long as wide) than in G. walkerjonesi (usually about as long as wide). Males of G. morrilli have the genital sternite with a relatively shorter apodeme, which is almost as long as the aedeagal apodemes.

Distribution. NEOTROPICAL: Mexico (Triapitsyn 2006a). NEARCTIC: Mexico, and USA (Triapitsyn 2006a).

Gonatocerus morrrilli was introduced into California from Texas and Tamaulipas, Mexico, against H. vitripennis (Morgan et al. 2002; Triapitsyn, Bezark et al. 2002; Pilkington et al. 2005); however, de León & Morgan (2005) reported that it was actually the similarly looking California native G. walkerjonesi that was released because of contamination of the cultures of the insectary-reared G. morrilli . Later, the true G. morrilli , of southern Texas origin, was released and established in California (de León & Morgan 2007).

Hosts. Homalodisca liturata Ball , H. vitripennis (Germar) , Oncometopia clarior (Walker) , O. nigricans (Walker) , O. sp. near nigricans (Walker) , and other Oncometopia spp., also likely including O. orbona (Fabricius) (Cicadellidae) (Triapitsyn 2006a).

Figures

FIGURES 379 – 381. Gonatocerus (Cosmocomoidea) morrilli ♀ (379, 381 – Monticello, Jefferson Co., Florida, USA; 380 – Weslaco, Hidalgo Co., Texas, USA): 379, antenna; 380, dorsellum and propodeum; 381, forewing.